A comprehensive 2026 global survey commissioned by The Rockefeller Foundation indicates a significant disconnect between President Donald Trump’s isolationist foreign policy and the views of the American public. The data shows that support for multilateral engagement within the United States has risen, even as America’s standing as a preferred global leader has waned internationally.
President Trump, who championed an “America First” doctrine during his inaugurations in 2017 and subsequently, has frequently criticized the United Nations, labeling it an unaccountable bureaucracy and merely a “talking shop.” However, the latest poll suggests that a majority of Americans disagree with this perspective. In the 2025 iteration of the survey, 61% of U.S. respondents agreed that their country should collaborate with others to address global challenges, even at the cost of some national interest compromises. By 2026, that figure climbed to 65%, with opposition dropping to 14%.
This domestic enthusiasm for cooperation exceeds that of Western Europe, where 61% support similar collaborative efforts. Furthermore, trust in the UN among Americans has grown to 62%, an eight-point increase from the previous year, with nearly half of respondents comfortable with the organization playing a leading role on the world stage.
The survey, which interviewed over 35,000 individuals across 34 countries, also highlighted shifting global perceptions. While American support for working with the world is strong, global confidence in U.S. leadership has diminished. Only 39% of respondents worldwide feel comfortable with America taking a leading role, while 34% view the U.S. as a major threat to their nations. For comparison, Russia scored higher on the threat metric at 42%, and China was viewed as a threat by 30% of respondents.
When asked which countries they would prefer to see lead in global affairs, the United States ranked in the bottom half of the list. Canada emerged as the most favored leader, with 60% of global respondents comfortable with its role. Other middle powers, including Japan (58%), Australia (55%), and the United Kingdom (54%), also outranked the U.S. This shift reflects a decline in American soft power, evidenced by Gallup data showing that the percentage of people worldwide preferring to live in America dropped from 24% in 2009 to 15% in 2025.
Despite these external challenges, the poll finds that Americans retain a strong sense of communal responsibility and optimism. Fifty-five percent believe their communities would unite during a crisis, and 64% feel a duty to assist people in unknown countries. Additionally, 76% are confident that a better future can be built for the next generation.
These findings coincide with an initiative by 100 former prime ministers and presidents from every continent who recently endorsed core principles for enhanced global cooperation during the UN General Assembly in New York. According to the Rockefeller Foundation poll, 53% of Americans would support their president publicly backing these principles. The data suggests that despite the current political climate, the American public remains committed to the enduring values that connect the nation to the wider world, offering a foundation for renewed global leadership.
How can we expect global cooperation when domestic trust is so fractured? The internal unity metrics seem disconnected from policy.
Is this really surprising? The data shows trust in the UN is rising sharply. People want solutions, not empty talk.
If only our leaders actually listened to the majority instead of doubling down on isolationist rhetoric for political points.
I find it fascinating that Americans support cooperation more than Western Europeans. That contradicts my usual expectations about transatlantic attitudes.